10 killed in a suicide attack in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people including a provincial minister were killed and over 20 others injured in a suicide attack in Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday evening, officials and local media said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Jan Mohammad Khan said that the incident took place when the Provincial Law Minister Israrullah Gandapur was exchanging Eid greetings with people at his residence in Kullachi area of northwestern district of Dera Ismail Khan.

According to eyewitness, the suicide bomber shot dead a police guard at the main gate then entered into the main courtyard before exploding his explosive-laden vest near the minister.

"The attack killed 10 persons and injured over 20 others including the elder brother of the minister," said the police officer.

Police, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to the hospital in Dera Ismael Khan, where few of the wounded were reportedly in critical condition.

The minster was elected as a member of the provincial assembly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during May 11 general elections, and later joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a party led by Imran Khan that favors talks with the Pakistani Taliban to bring peace in the country.

Both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain condemned the incident and asked the authorities to provide best available medical treatment to the victims.

The federal interior ministry of the country ordered the police chief of the province to submit a report about the incident and also start a quick inquiry into the attack.

According to local Urdu TV channel Geo News, a militant group Ansar-ul-Mujahidin claimed responsibility for the attack.